Dowding & Churchill

A WWII historian shines a light on an unsung hero of the Battle of Britain and reveals the conspiracy that led to his undignified dismissal.

From 1936 to 1940, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding built Britain’s cutting edge defensive force, Fighter Command. Thanks to his foresight, Fighter Command was the only military arm prepared for battle when war was declared against Germany. Dowding’s leadership of Fighter Command was crucial to achieving victory in the Battle of Britain—one of the decisive battles of Western Civilization.

Though the importance of the Battle of Britain was recognized at the time, Dowding was relieved of his command shortly afterward—and shuffled into retirement without recognition. This book reveals that this was the result of a shabby conspiracy by fellow officers. In March 1941, the Air Ministry published a brief account of the battle that made no mention of Dowding.

Churchill was furiously indignant. But in November 1940 he had acquiesced in Dowding’s removal. Why? And what are the factors that led to Dowding’s dismissal in the first place? In this thought-provoking and authoritative book Jack Dixon answers these questions and explains Dowding’s true greatness.